Switch



April 25, r H, El NORVlEL SWITCH Filed April 15, 1932 J9 @E mi ,g YM

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Patented Apr. 25, 1933 `UNITED lSTATES Parr-:NT` OFFICE HARRY E.NORVIEL, DECEASED, LATE vOF ANDERSON, INDIANA, BY ANDERSON BANK- INGCOMPANY, EXECUTOR, OF ANDERSON, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO DELCO-REMYrCORPORATION, 0F ANDERSON, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE SWITCHApplication led April 18,

This invention relates to electrical switches, and particularly toswitches. of the ratchet type which may be operated by foot pressure. c

It is among the objects of the invention to provide a ratchet-typeswitch in which the various types of switch parts are more perfectlyadapted for the control of particular types of circuits, and to providefor operating such a switch by a foot-operated device Further objectsand advantages of the present invention will be apparent from thefollowing description, reference being had to the accompanying drawingwherein a preferred embodiment of one form of the present invention isclearly shown.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a switch embodying the present invention. 1

Fig. 2 is a vsectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectlonal view onthe line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan view of the switch back and circuit closingmeans looking in the direction of line l5 5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a detail view of a switch ratchet.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line 7-7 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a development of a sectional view taken on the dot-and-dashline circle 8 in Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawing, the present foot pedal controlled switch,which is indicated in its entirety by a numeral 20, is preferablyinstalled upon the lower side of a floor board,

1932. Serial No. 605,091.

not shown. The switch 20 comprises a relatively rigid mounting bracketor plate 21. A cup-shaped switch'case 22 is attached to the plate 2l bya guide sleeve 23, the sleeve having tangs or tongues 24 extendingthrough aligned apertures, in the plate 21 and case 22 and bent over asat 25 against the underside of the case.' The plate 21 and a case 22 areprovided with aligned apertures, vthrou h which an actuating rod 26 mayextend. T e rodv26 is attached at its upper end to a cap 27, and the rodis maintained normally in a position shown in the drawing by a spring 28located between the plate 21 and the cap 27. The cap 27 is supported forendwise movement by the guide sleeve 23. A head 29 provided on the rod26 is maintained normally in engagement with the plate 21 owing to thetension put upon the spring 28. The plate 21 is provided with aperturedends 21a ada ted to be mounted upon and secured to the oor lor channels36 arranged substantially diametrically opposite each other in a raisedportion 37 formed integral with the support 30. The notches 36 receivefiat portions on the heads of the rivets 32 and 33 to keep same fromturning upon the back. The notches indicated by reference numerals 38,39, 40 and 41 are adapted to receive fingers 42, 43, 44 and 45respectively, of a plate 46. The fingers 43 and 45 are substantiallyflush with the surface of the raised portion 37, while the fingers 42and 44 are bent at an angle out of the plane of the fingers 43 and 45 toform shoulders or stops 52 and 52a above the surface of the raisedportion 37. The stops 52 and 52a cooperate with a plurality of bosses 61provided by a movable contact 47 to restrain backward movement of themovable contact or in other words, restrain the movable contact 47 inmoving in a clockwise rotation as viewed in Figs. 2 and 5. The plate 46is provided with an aperture 48 having a plurality of notches` 49extending therefrom. The plate 46 is held upon the back 30 by a collar50 provided by the post 34, the collar being larger in dimension thanthe aperture 48 so as to engage the outer surface of the plate to form agood electrical connection between the post 34 and the plate 46. Thecollar 50 is deformed, as at. 51, to form detents or prongs that areadapted to fit within the notches 49 keeping the post 34 from rotatingwithin the support 30. The collar is held firmly against the plate 46 bydeforming a portion of the post 34 extending through the back 30, as at53, over a metallic washer 54.

The movable member 47 is rotatably supported by the post 34, and isprovided with six equidistant noncircular apertures 60 and threechannel-shaped contacts or bosses 61, the contacts have a flat edge 62which will cooperate with the stops 52. The contact bosses 61 of theplate 47 have a tapered portion 64 to permit the contacts to ride freelyover the stops in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 2 and5. The bosses 61 engage and slide over the fingers 38, 39, 40 and 41 andtend to maintain the contacting surfaces clean.

The movable contact member 47 is given a step-by-step rotary mot-ion ina counterclockwise direction as viewedin Figs. 2 and 5 by a ratchetmechanism which comprises edges 60a. of the apertures 60, which serve asratchet teeth, and a driving member 65 having three pawls or tongues 66which are integral with the member 65 and are bent away from the planeof the disc as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4. The driving member 65 isrotatably supported by the post 34 and is actuated by a U-shaped bracket67 and supported by the post 34. The U-bracket 67 has an arm 68 that isprovided with an aperture 69 for receiving an ear 70 bent at rightangles from the plane of the driving member 65. The arms of theU-bracket 67 carry a pin 71 which supports a nonconducting block 72. TheU-bracket is yieldingly urged in a clockwise direction by a spring 73 sothat the block 72 normally engages the head 29 of the rod 23 due to thetension in the spring' 7 3 located between the arms of the U-bracket andcoiled about the post 34. This is accomplishcd by the spring 73 havingan end 74 under tension bearing against the pin 71, and the other endpassing through a slot 75 provided by the post 34. The U-bracket is heldupon the post 34 by a pin 76 extending through the rod 34.

A coiled spring 8O is interposed between the arm 68 of the bracket 67and the driving member 65. The spring 8O is held under compression bythe U-bracket 67 that is held upon the ost 34 by the pin 76. The spring80 yiel ingly urges the parts 65 and 47 toward the back 37 so as to keepthe driving member 65 in a good ratchet engagement with the contactplate 67 and at the same time hold the contact plate 67 in goodelectrical connection with the plate 46.

As shown in the drawing, see Fig. 5, the terminal 33 is engaged by oneof the channelshaped bosses 6l and since only one of thc bosses 61 maybe engaged with a terminal at the same time, the terminal 32, thereforewill not be included in the electrical circuit as it is not engaged byone of the bosses 61. When one ofthe bosses is in engagement with aterminal 32. another' boss 61 will be engaged with the finger 45, whilestill another boss 61 will have its square edge 62 engaging the stop 52to prevent backward rotation ofthe member 47. When it is desired toclose another circuit, the rod 26 through the ca 28 is moved downwardlyuntil the bottom o the cap 27 will approximately engage the top of thesleeve 23. This movement of the cap 27 will cause the head 29 of the rod26 to move the block 72 and the U-bracket 67 approximately 6()O in acounterclockwise direction. This motion will be transmitted from theU-bracket 67 to the driving washer 65 through the ear 70, which in turr,will transmit motion to the member 47 through the pawls 66 engaging theflat surface 60a of the apertures 60 causing the bosses 61 to be movedsufficiently to bring one of the bosses into engagement with theterminal 32 and causes the boss 61, which was previously in engagementwith the terminal 33, to have its flat edge 62 engage the stop 52alprovided by the finger 44.

When the cap 24 is released, the spring 28 will move the rod 23 upwardlyinto the position shown in Fig. 2, the driving washer 65 and theU-bracket 67 will be returned to their normal position by the spring 73,but the contact member 47 will remain in the last mentioned positionsince it cannot rotate in n clockwise direction, due to the engagementof one of the bosses 61 with the stop 52a. Therefore, successiveoperation of the rod 26 will cause the terminal post 34 to be connectedalternately with terminals 32 and 33. The terminals 32, 33 and 34 areprovided with tapped holes for receiving screws by which wires may beattached.

This switch is rticularly adapted for dimming the hea lights of anvautomobile when in use, the post 34 is connected with a. storage batteryor other source of current, and either one of the terminals 32 and 33 isconnected directly with thc bright circuit of the headlights, while theother one is connected through a resistance coil with the headlights. Itis apparent that. the headlights will burn bright and dim alternately,due to successive operations of the cap 27. Since the cap 27 may beeasily subjected to excessive foot pressure, the sleeve 26 will limitthe downward movement of the capl 24, thus the rod 23 will be limited inits downward movement after it has been moved sufficiently to operatethe switch. Therefore, no matter how vigorously the cap 27 is pusheddownwardly, the switch mechanism will not be damaged as the sleeve 23and the plate 2l which supports the sleeve are made relatively strongand rigid so as to withstand excessive pressure exerted upon the cap 27,which is transmitted to the sleeve 23, thence to the plate 21.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as hereindisclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is -to be understood thatother forms might be adopted, all'coming Within the scope of the claimswhich follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. An electric switch comprising, in combination, an insulating support;a conducting plate carried by said support; a terminal contact postconnected with said plate; stationary terminal contacts carried by saidsupport; a circuit closing means, said means pivoted upon said post andprovided with contact bosses and apertures, said apertures provided withratchet engaging edges and said bosses connecting one of said stationaryterminal contacts with said conducting late; a driving plate havingtangs extendlng from the plane of said driving plate to engage saidratched edges; a U-brac et pivoted upon said post, one arm of saidbracket having an opening receiving an ear of said driving plate;manually operated means for moving said bracket in one direction torotate said driving late on said circuit closing means-in one irection;a spring to turn said bracket and driving plate in the oppositedirection; and spring means urging said driving plate and circuitclosing means toward said stationary contacts.

2. An electric switch comprising, in combination, a support; terminalscarried Vby said support; circuit closing means pivoted upon one of saidterminals; driving means rotatably supported by said pivot terminal;actuating means rotatably supported by said pivot terminal connected tosaid driving means; a controller operable uponI said actuating' means torotate said driving means, said driving means turning said circuitclosing means in one direction; spring means to turn said actuating anddriving means in another direction; and spring means urging said circuitclosing means toward said terminals.

3. An electric switch comprising, in combination, a terminal blockcarrying a terminal post extending from said block, said block having acircular row of notches concentric with said post, stationary contactsattached to said block and extending into one or more of said notches; aconducting plate having ra plurality of fingers ittin into one or moreof said notches, one of said ingers'bent at an angle and extending abovethe plane of said plate to form a stop; a movable contact platerotatably supported by said post and having bosses and ratchet engagingedges, one of said bosses adapted to engage a stationary contact andanother boss adaptedto engage said stop; a driving disc rotatablysupported by said post and movable contact plate; a U-shaped bracketrotatably supported by said post having one arm provided with anaperture, said aperture adaptedto receive an ear bent at an angle andcarried by said driving disc; manually operated means for rotating ysaidbracket and driving disc in one direction to turn said movable contactplate until one of said bosses engages said stop; a spring for turningsaid bracket and driving disc in the opposite direction; and a springfor ur ing the driving disc toward said movabl contact to urge saidcontactinto engagement with said conduction plate.

4. An electric switch comprising, in combination, a support; terminalcontacts and a terminal post carried by said Isupport; a movable contactrotatably supported by one of said terminal posts; a ratchet memberrotatably supported by said post for producing step-by-step rotation ofsaid movable contact; an actuating. member connected to said ratchetmember; means for moving both of said members in one directionto rotatesaid movable contact to a circuit closing position; means for movingboth of said'members in the opposite direction; and resilient meansurging said ratchet member toward said movable contact. y

5. An electric switchcomprising, in combination; a support; a terminalpost carried by said support; contact terminals carried by said support;a stationary conducting plate connected to said post; a bridging memberhaving a series of ratchet o enings arranged in a circular row rotatab ysuported by said post, said bridging member aving contact bosses, one ofsaid contact bosses connecting said plate with one of said contactterminals; driving means rotatably supported by said post and adapted toengage one of said ratchet openings; means or actuating said drivingmeans; manually operated means for moving said .actuating means in onedirection to turn said bridging member in the same direction; springmeans for turning the actuating and driving means in the oppositedirection; and spring means for urging said bridging means toward saidconducting plate.

6. An electric switch comprising, in combination; a mounting plate; alcup-shaped having tongues extending from the plane of l said disc toengage said ratchet edges of said housing secured to said plate; aswitch back forming a closure for said housing; -a terminal post carriedby said back; a statlonary conducting plate connected to said post;stationary contacts carried by said back; a bridging member having aseries of ratchet teeth arranged in a circular row rotatably supportedby said post, said bridging member having a boss connecting said plateadapted with one of said stationary contacts; a driving washer rotatablysupported by said post and adapted to engage said ratched teeth; meansfor rotating said driving washer; manually operated means for actuatlngsaid driving washer in one direction to turn the bridging member in thesame direction; a spring for turning said rotating means and drivingwasher' in the opposite direction; and means urging said boss towardsaid conducting plate.

7. An electric switch comprising, in combination; a housing; a closurefor said housing; a plate supporting said housing; said closureproviding a plurality of terminals; a conducting plate connected withone of said terminals; circuit closing means pivoted upon one of saidterminals for connecting at least two of said terminals in a circuit;driving means rotatably supported upon said pivot terminal; actuatingmeans connected with said driving means rotatably supported on saidpivot terminal; a plunger supported by said plate operable to turn saidactuating means, driving means and circuit closing means in onedirection; a spring to turn said actuating and driving means in theopposite direction; and a spring interposed between said actuating anddriving means urging said driving means and circuit closing meansaxially upon said pivot terminal toward said conducting plate.

8. An electric switch comprising, in combination, a rotatable membercarrying a plurality of electrically connected contacts, a plurality ofstationary contacts insulated from each other and engaged alternately byone or another of the movable contacts in successive positions of themovable member, i plurality of electrically connected stationarycontacts engaged alternately by one or another of the movable contactsin successive positions O the movable member, and means for imparting tothe rotatable member a step-by-step motion in the same direction.

9. An electric switch comprising, in combination` a rotatable membercarrying a plurality of electrically connected contacts, a plurality ofstationary contacts insulated from each other and engaged alternately byone or another of the movable contacts in successive positions of themovable member, a metal plate providing a plurality of stationarycontacts, a plurality of electrically connected stationary contactsengaged alternately by one or Ianother of the movable contacts insuccessive positions of the movable member, and means for imparting tothe rotatable member a step-by-step motion in the same direction.

l0. A metal plate providing a plurality of stationary contacts engagedalternately by one or another of the movable contacts in successivepositions of the movable member, said plate providing arts extendingbeyond the plane of the stationary contacts to provide surfaces alongwhich the movable contacts bear during movements thereof, said partsalso providing stops to prevent reverse movement of the movablecontacts, and means for imparting to the rotatable member a step-by-stepmotion in the same direction.

11. An electric switch comprising, in combination, a rotatable membercarrying a plurality of electrically connected contacts, a plurality ofstationary contacts insulated from each other and engaged alternately byone or another of the movable contacts in successive positions of themovable member, means for conducting current to the movable contacts,and parts extending beyond the plane of the stationary contacts toprovide surfaces along which the movable contacts bear during movementsthereof, said parts also providing stops to prevent reverse movement ofthe movable contacts, and means for imparting to the rotatable member astep-by-step motion in the same direction.

In testimony whereof is hereto afiixed the signature.

ANDERSON BANKING COMPANY, E'emtor of the Estate of Harry E. N orfviel,

Deceased.

By LINFIELD MYERS,

President.

